T20 WORLD CUP: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Sunday’s T20 World Cup match between INDIA v NEW ZEALAND with a recommended BETDAQ bet.


MATCH OVERVIEW:

India are back in action on Sunday at the T20 World Cup as they take on New Zealand in Dubai. It feels like an age ago that India played Pakistan, and we’ve had plenty of drama on BETDAQ Betting Exchange since! India have had plenty of time to reflect on their heavy defeat to Pakistan, and I’ll be interested to see do they make any changes here. Group 2 is definitely a lot more open but India, New Zealand and Afghanistan are playing for second spot with Pakistan running away in first place.

Pakistan have already beaten both these sides, and the loser here will be in a very difficult position. This is probably the biggest game of the World Cup to date – I know we have had some huge clashes with top quality teams, but in those games you could afford to lose and come back. The loser here will need help from other games to qualify, this is almost like a knockout game. It’s very difficult to see Scotland or Namibia beating India or New Zealand so that basically leaves the loser needing Afghanistan to beat the winners, but then that also leaves Afghanistan is a decent position too!

This is a high pressure game, and I can’t wait. New Zealand will probably be underrated by the average cricket fan, but they are a top class side. They lost the ODI World Cup Final to a super over and are current World Test Champions. India will go into the game as massive favourites, but I expect a close game.


WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:

It was very interesting to see the Afghanistan v Pakistan game here on Friday. I have been saying that I feel 170 is a par score here, but we just haven’t seen a very level game with that score – the side batting first has been falling short. Afghanistan posted 147/6 and although Pakistan made very hard work of chasing it, they did chase it down with an over to spare in the end. With the pressure on this game, I think you have to bowl first – it definitely looks like a slight edge as no one has really fired batting first yet.


RECOMMENDED BET:

I’m happy to keep stakes low on this game because my bet is purely from a value point of view. I’m happy to back New Zealand here at 3.0 which looks too big. New Zealand are a top class side and I can’t have them this big in a high pressure game. Both sides need to bounce back from a loss against Pakistan, and neither fired with the bat in their opening game. India had the better batting conditions here compared to New Zealand in Sharjah, and this ground should suit New Zealand too. I just expect a closer game than the odds suggest here.

The Edge Says:
One point win New Zealand to beat India at 3.0 with BETDAQ Exchange.

View the market here -> https://bit.ly/BDQIndNz


IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:

Both sides batted first against Pakistan, and both sides failed to fire. I don’t think we should read too much into that, and I wouldn’t be taking on the openers just because Shaheen Shah Afridi ripped through them or New Zealand had a wobble in Sharjah against the spinners. I feel the best in-play edge here might be to take on the team who bats first. Chasing has looked the better option here so far, and batting has been pretty difficult first up. I wouldn’t be surprised to see early wickets. India never really recovered from them in their opening game, and it’s likely Virat Kohli could bat too slow again after early wickets here if they come.